National shrine to Mary dedicated in capital
The New Zealand Catholic Bishops Conference has warmly thanked the many people who made a success of the Mass of Dedication of St Mary of the Angels church in Wellington as the National Shrine to Mary, Mother of God, Assumed into Heaven.
The century-old landmark church was full almost to overflowing with the colourful diversity of the Catholic Church in Aotearoa New Zealand for the spe
cial 2pm Mass on August 14.
It was the finale of a year of celebration that began at the church the same Sunday a year ago with a rededication of the country to Mary, followed by a hīkoi (journey) of the specially-commissioned artwork, Ko Hāta Maria, te Matua Wahine o te Atua — Holy Mary, Mother of God, around the country’s six dioceses.
The artwork icon — by Rangiora artist Damien Walker of the Studio of St Philomena — was carried back into the church at the start of the Dedication Mass, and will be on permanent view there as part of the national shrine.
Cardinal John Dew, president of the New Zealand Catholic Bishops Conference and Archbishop of Wellington, said that the bishops wish to thank everyone who worked to make the Mass such a success.
“This was an important event, and everything happened so smoothly thanks to the enormous efforts put in by so many, many people,” said Cardinal Dew.
In his homily as celebrant of the Mass, Cardinal Dew noted that sacred sites were found in many places around the world, such as cathedrals, temples, war memorials, Ground Zero in New York, and, in Wellington, the tomb of the Venerable Suzanne Aubert and a memorial to the Wahine disaster.
“Sacred sites all over the world are visited by thousands . . . they may be natural sites or designed and built by human beings. These places often hold deep meaningful messages, are awe-inspiring, they prompt us to reflect on life, on where we are with God, [they] stir up feelings of awe and reverence and draw us close to God.
“St Mary of the Angels is already a sacred place and has been for 100 years. Now this Icon of Mary Mother of God Assumed into Heaven is here permanently . . . we hope and pray that, in time, this becomes one of those sacred sites.
Read the full article here - https://nzcatholic.org.nz/2022/09/01/national-shrine-to-mary-dedicated-in-capital/
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